Code labeling device

ABSTRACT

A device for applying inconspicuous coded indicia, such as indicia indicating the date of production, on labels of a type applied to various products, such as canned or bottled products. The device is characterized by an ink applicator secured to a base and having adjustable ink applying elements thereon in a coded arrangement, a means connected to the base to supply ink to the ink applying elements, means to facilitate relative contacting movement between the edges of stacked labels and the ink applying elements. The ink applicator presents a profile complimentary to the profile of the label on which it is applying coded information.

nited States Patent 1191 Hellenberg 1 Oct. 22, 1974 [541 CODE LABELINGDEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 lnvemori Carl ellenbergRacine, 670,296 10/1964 Italy 11/1 AD [73] Assignee: Porelon, Inc.,Racine, Wis. Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh [22] F1led: May 15, 1972121] App]. No.: 253,143 [57] ABSTRACT 1 A device for applyinginconspicuous coded indicia, 1 Cl 8/238, 118/262 such as indiciaindicating the date of production, on [51] Int. Cl. B05c l/02 labels ofa type applied to various products, such as [58] eld Of Sea ch 8/ 38,canned or bottled products. The device is character- 1 18/236, 262; 1 H1AD ized byan ink applicator secured to a base and having adjustable inkapplying elements thereon in a coded [56] References Cited arrangement,a means connected to the base to supply UNITED STATES PATENTS inkto theink applying elements, means to facilitate 189 H 1 118 262 relativemutating movement between the edges of 5/1892 G li c her 1185238 Stackedlabels and the ink applying elements. The ink 2,451,175 10/1948Risberg..... 118/222 applicator Presents a Profile complimentary to the2,646,612 7/1953 Shearer. 118/222 X profile of the label on which it isapplying coded infor- 3,035,952 5/1962 Gwynne 113/222 X mation.3,227,080 1/1966 Hill 113/260 X 3,516,387 6/1970 Windsor 118/238 10Clalms, 4 Drawmg Flgllres A4 7 72 if? .|I|\ I L 68 3: $6 78 CODELABELING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesgenerally to devices for applying codes to packages and particularly tolabels which are later attached to various products. Manufacturers of awide variety of consumer products find it desirable and necessary toindicate on their products the dates of production. This is desirable toassist, for example, in determination of whether a particular productwas in a batch of defectively produced products. A dating system willremove uncertainty as to the thoroughness of a product recall and avoidthe necessity of a total recall of all products regardless of productiondate. Date information is useful for various other reasons as will bereadily appreciated. In some cases, other information is also desirablefor various reasons.

In the past, various codes have been developed to indicate informationon containers without revealing it to the consumer and various meanshave been developed to place coded indicia on a product. Various numbersaccording to a code might be stamped on the bottom of a container or inan inconspicuous location on a la-* be]. In some systems, scratch markshave been made on metal containers in an inconspicuous location. Onewidely used method of code dating various products has been cuttingslits spaced according to the code on the edge of a label, such as apaper label, which is applied to a container. Such slitting of labels isof particular harm to the appearance of the label and further puts thelabel in condition such that tearing upon further packaging or handlingis quite likely.

One disadvantage of these and other methods is that in spite of anattempt to preserve good package appearance the coding defaces theappearance to some extent. Furthermore, the methods of applying suchcoded information are often clumsy and undependable.

The ideal coding system would provide clearly legible coded indiciawhich may be applied in a dependable fashion in an inconspicuouslocation on the product. The coded indicia should be easy to apply and,importantly, should not detract from the package appearance. The priormethods have fallen short in one or more of these categories.

I have invented a device which applies coded indicia on labels in amanner meeting all of the aforementioned requirements. The devicedisclosed herein puts clearly legible coded indicia on a label in adependable fashion. The indicia is easily applied with the device of myinvention and the appearance of the package is virtually unchanged toany casual or careful observer unless he is aware of the location ofsuch indicia.

The device of my invention applies coded indicia to the edge of labelsto be thereafter applied to products. The code is applied withoutcutting or defacing the edge of the label in any way. My invention hasthe further feature of being adaptable to labels of all configurationsas will be explained further herein.

My invention is based in part upon the discovery that inked indiciacarefully applied to the edge of a sheet label is readily legible to theeducated observer without exception. Further, the device of my inventionhas the ability to apply such inked indicia to stacks of labels withoutmissing a single label, even though the indicia may be applied byunskilled labor.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a device forapplying coded indica to labels which overcomes the aforementionedproblems.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device for codinglabels which is easy to operate and dependable.

It is another object of my invention to provide a simple device forlegibly coding labels in an inconspicuous FIG. 3 is a partially cutawayfront elevation of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of an ink applicator devicepresenting a concave periphery.

In the'drawings, like parts are given the same numbers in each of thedrawings. Referring specifically to FIG. 1, code dating apparatus 20 isshown having a base 22 comprising a rectangular metal place and variousother parts as indicated. Riser 24 provides a platform upon whichsupport piece 26 is mounted. Shaft 28 turns in bearing means 30 insupport piece 26. Shaft 28 is horizontally mounted.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, ink applicator wheel 32 is attached toshaft 28 and turns therewith. Ink applicator wheel 32 has periphery 34which is generally cylindrical as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Periphery34 defines parallel annular grooves around wheel 32. As

shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, several 0 rings are wrapped about wheel 32and secured in certain of the grooves 36. The choice of grooves relatesto the code being used. 0 rings 38 are ink applying elements which rollagainst the edges of labels in a stack as will be explained furtherherein.

As shown in FIG. 1, riser 24 has a lateral extension 40 through whichshaft 42 extends parallel to shaft 28. Affixed to shaft 42 is a roll 44which serves as an ink supply mearis for the 0 rings. Roll 44 ispreferably an ink impregnated porous substance, such as for example thatsold under the trademark PORELON. As the wheel32 and roll 44 turn, 0rings 38 contact roll 44 at contact point shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Ink isremoved from roll 44 to rings 38 and is later applied to the label edgesas will be explsined.

Slidable tray 46 is attached to base 22 through various support piecesshown in the figures. Slidable tray 46 is mounted to move in left andright directions as shown in FIGS. v1 and 2. Tray 46 includes table 48which defines a slot 50 therein which serves as an access area for inkapplicator wheel 32 to labels which are stacked with their edges down intray 46. Side wall 52 and stack-holding piece 58 are. adjustable toaccommodate labels of various sizes in tray 46.

A stack of labels, such as paper labels, will be placed in tray 46 withthe plane of said labels being parallel to stack-holding piece 58 andfront wall 59. Side wall 52 may be adjusted along slots 56 toaccommodate a particular size and shape of label. Clamp screws 54 willbe tightened to fix side wall 52 in the appropriate position, as shownbest in FIG. 3. Stack-holding piece 58 will be moved to the left asshown in FIG. 2 for the loading of a stack of labels in tray 46. Thisposition is shown by means of phantom lines in FIG. 2. After the stackis placed in tray 46 in the manner earlier described, stack-holdingpiece 58 will be tightened to the right. Stack-holding piece 58 ismounted on threaded shaft 60 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which extendsthrough support piece 62 and has a crank means 63 with handle 64attached to the end thereof to facilitate tightening of a stack oflabels between front wall 59 and stackholding piece 58.

It will readily be appreciated that the edge of each of the labels inthe stack will extend across access area 50 in table 48. As the tray ispushed, by hand or otherwise, to the right as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the edges of the labels in tray 46 will pass over ink applicator wheel32. As such movement occurs, rings 38 will apply ink from ink supplyroll 44 to the edges of such labels.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the shaft support 66 is mounted on base 22 andhas shaft 68 rotatably' mounted therethrough on bearing means 70. Piniongear 72 is affixed to shaft 68 in a position to mesh with rack 74 whichis attached to slidable tray 46 by fasteners 76 as shown in FIG. 3. Theback and forth slidable motions of tray 46 will produce rotation ofpinion gear 72 and shaft 68. Secured to the other end of shaft 68 ispulley 78. Pulley 80 is secured to extension 82 of shaft 28 and isaligned with pulley 78. Belt 84 transmits the rotation of shaft 68 toshaft 28. Thus, upon the movement of tray 46, a spinning motion isimparted to ink applicator wheel 32. By reason of the contact of wheel32 and roll 44, fresh portions of ink supply roll 44 will be presentedto the portions of 0 rings 38 at various peripheral portions of wheel32. The rotation of wheel 32 and its rings 38 also aids in theapplication of ink to the edges of the labels in tray 46.

Movement of the tray is preferably achieved by an operator placing hishand on the labels secured in tray 46 or by his gripping side wall 52,stack-holding piece 58, and/or front wall 59. Tray 46 is preferably madeof a sufficient dimension to allow several hundred labels to be indiciamarked at one time.

FIG. 4 shows an applicator wheel designed specially to accommodate alabel having a curved edge, just as the ink applicator wheel shown inFIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is designed to accommodate labels having a straightedge. The applicator wheel may be removed from the apparatus of myinvention and replaced with a wheel of a different contour simply byremoving fastener 88 from shaft 28 and later securing it afterreplacement of an applicator wheel. a

The code may be adjusted simply by moving the 0 rings to grooves of adifferent spacing. Codes of various types may be devised to specifydates or other information desired. The various parts of the apparatusdescribed are preferably made of machine steel, but a wide variety ofmaterials may be used as will readily be appreciated by those skilled inthe art and familiar with the teaching of my invention. As mentioned,the ink supply means is preferably a PORELON roller. The 0 rings arepreferably rubber rings, but other materials may be used.

Ink supply means other than as specifically described may be used in myinvention. For example, an ink supply means could be located inside theink applicator. A

wide variety of ink supply means would be suitable. However, I havefound PORELON rolls to be most satisfactory.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been describedin relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many detailshave been set forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible toadditional embodiments and that certain of the details described hereincan be varied considerably without departing from the basic principlesof the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for coding package labels of the type having ink-applyingelements for placing inked indicia on labels, said device comprising:

a base;

means attached to said base for gripping a stack of labels, said meansincluding clamp elements defining parallel planes of stack contact toorient a stack of labels surface-to-surface with evenly aligned edges,said means defining an access opening therealong through which a tight,flat surface of edges may be exposed;

means attached to said base for holding said inkapplying elements atsaid access opening, said holding means having a plurality of holdinglocations spaced along its length, across said access opening, for saidink-applying elements; lesser plurality of said ink-applying elementsarranged along substantially the entire length of said holding means atcertain of said holding locations according to code, each of saidink-applying elements secured at one of said holding locations, saidink-applying elements being across said access opening;

an ink impregnated ink supply structure mounted to said base in positionto contact said ink-applying elements to supply ink thereto;

means to facilitate relative movement of said inkapplying elements incontact with said ink supply structure; and

means to facilitate relative movement of said stack gripping means withrespect to said ink-applying elements, said relative movement being in adirection transverse said planes and said edges, whereby labels may bemarked with coded indicia which are clearly discernible to those awareof their presence yet are inconspicuous to those unaware of theirpresence.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for holding saidink-applying elements comprises a rotatably mounted wheel.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said wheel defines axially spacedannular grooves around the periphery thereof to form said holdinglocations and wherein said ink-applying elements comprise 0 rings aroundsaid wheel in certain of said grooves, said 0 rings being in contactwith said ink supply structure.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said wheel has a curved profile tocomplement stacked labels having curved edges.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said ink supply structure is agenerally cylindrical roll in peripheral contact with said 0 rings.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said stack gripping means is a slidabletray, said tray defining said access with said ink supply structure.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said ink supply structure is agenerally cylindrical roll in peripheral contact with said 0 rings.

10. The device of claim 9 including mechanical linkage linking saidslidable tray, said wheel and said ink supply roll, whereby said inksupply roll peripherally and rotatably engages said O'rings on saidwheel and said wheel rotates to apply ink to edges of labels in saidtray,

1. A device for coding package labels of the type having inkapplyingelements for placing inked indicia on labels, said device comprising: abase; means attached to said base for gripping a stack of labels, saidmeans including clamp elements defining parallel planes of stack contactto orient a stack of labels surface-to-surface with evenly alignededges, said means defining an access opening therealong through which atight, flat surface of edges may be exposed; means attached to said basefor holding said ink-applying elements at said access opening, saidholding means having a plurality of holding locations spaced along itslength, across said access opening, for said ink-applying elements; alesser plurality of said ink-applying elements arranged alongsubstantially the entire length of said holding means at certain of saidholding locations according to code, each of said ink-applying elementssecured at one of said holding locations, said ink-applying elementsbeing across said access opening; an ink impregnated ink supplystructure mounted to said base in position to contact said ink-applyingelements to supply ink thereto; means to facilitate relative movement ofsaid ink-applying elements in contact with said ink supply structure;and means to facilitate relative movement of said stack gripping meanswith respect to said ink-applying elements, said relative movement beingin a direction transverse said planes and said edges, whereby labels maybe marked with coded indicia which are clearly discernible to thoseaware of their presence yet are inconspicuous to those unaware of theirpresence.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for holding saidink-applying elements comprises a rotatably mounted wheel.
 3. The deviceof claim 2 wherein said wheel defines axially spaced annular groovesaround the periphery thereof to form said holding locations and whereinsaid ink-applying elements comprise O rings around said wheel in certainof said grooves, said O rings being in contact with said ink supplystructure.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said wheel has a curvedprofile to complement stacked labels having curved edges.
 5. The deviceof claim 3 wherein said ink supply structure is a generally cylindricalroll in peripheral contact with said O rings.
 6. The device of claim 1wherein said stack gripping means is a slidable tray, said tray definingsaid access opening, said access opening extending along said tray inthe direction of slidable motion, and said ink-applying elements beingacross said access opening.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said meansfor holding said ink-applying elements comprises a rotatably mountedwheel.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said wheel has axially spacedgrooves around the periphery thereof to form said holding locations andwherein said ink-applying elements comprise O rings around said wheel incertain of said grooves, said O rings being in contact with said inksupply structure.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein said ink supplystructure is a generally cylindrical roll in peripheral contact withsaid O rings.
 10. The device of claim 9 including mechanical linkagelinking said slidable tray, said wheel and said ink supply roll, wherebysaid ink supply roll peripherally and rotatably engages said O rings onsaid wheel and said wheel rotates to apply ink to edges of labels insaid tray.